-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Defending champions Egypt will play Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations final after thrashing bitter rivals Algeria 4-0 in a semifinal that saw their opponents finish with just eight men .

The game was evenly poised until Rafik Halliche brought down Emad Moteab in the area eight minutes before the break .

Halliche was sent off and Hosni Abd Rabou converted the spot-kick to put Egypt on their way for a possible third successive title .

Mohamed Zidan added a classy second after 65 minutes before Nadir Belhadj then saw red for a horror challenge on Ahmed El Mohamady five minutes later .

Mohamed Abdelshafy grabbed his first goal for Egypt nine minutes from the end , but there was still time for Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi to pick up a second yellow card -- and for Mohamed Gedo to make it 4-0 in stoppage time .

The result proved sweet revenge for Egypt who missed out on a World Cup spot when they were beaten by Algeria in a play-off .

There was controversy surrounding Egypt 's opener . The penalty decision appeared clear-cut but Hosni converted with the help of a stuttering run-up which incensed Chaouchi , who made a vehement protest to the referee and was lucky not to be sent off himself .

Zidan doubled the advantage after turning Belhadj inside out before dispatching a left-footed shot into the far corner .

Belhadj 's evening got worse after he launched a two-footed lunge on El Mohamady and was rightly given his marching orders .

Abdelshafy came off the bench to add a third with a neat finish from an acute angle .

Chaouchi was then dismissed two minutes from time as he swung his foot at Gedo , who moments later finished past substitute keeper Mohamed Zemmamouche for the fourth .

Meanwhile , earlier in the day , Ghana edged past near-neighbors Nigeria 1-0 in a match which produced much less drama .

Asamoah Gyan scored the only goal midway through the first half when a Kwadwo Asamoah corner caught out the napping Super Eagles defence and the Rennes striker applied the finishing touch .

It was one-way traffic thereafter as wasteful finishing from Nigeria , coupled with some dogged defending and solid goalkeeping from Richard Kingston , helped the four-time former winners seal a place in the final for the first time since 1992 .

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Defending champions Egypt will play Ghana in the African Cup of Nations final

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Egypt thrash rivals Algeria 4-0 as their opponents finish the match with just eight men

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Ghana edge past near-neighbors Nigeria 1-0 to secure their place in the final